Antigliadin antibodies and the brain in people without celiac disease: a case-control study.

Background: Anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) occur in approximately 10% of the general population, produced as a response to gluten. Autoimmune gluten-related disorders can have detrimental neurological effects if not properly controlled but the relevance of such "incidental" AGA is not properly established; any harm caused would indicate the gluten-free diet as a means for affected people to protect their brain health. We explored this question by comparing brain MRI scanning, cognitive testing and other measures between healthy volunteers with and without AGA.

Does a Gluten-Free Diet Improve Quality of Life and Sleep in Patients with Non-Coeliac Gluten/Wheat Sensitivity?

Introduction: The role of a gluten-free diet (GFD) in Non-Coeliac Gluten/Wheat Sensitivity (NCGWS) is unclear. We present the largest study comparing adherence to a GFD in patients with Coeliac Disease (CD) and NCGWS and assess its impact on quality of life (QoL) and sleep in patients with NCGWS.

Methods: Patients with NCGWS at a tertiary centre completed the Coeliac Disease Adherence Test (CDAT), Coeliac Symptom Index (CSI) and Sleep Condition Indicator (SCI).

Neurological Evaluation of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Coeliac Disease Presenting to Gastroenterologists: A 7-Year Follow-Up Study.

We have previously shown that 67% of patients with newly diagnosed coeliac disease (CD) presenting to gastroenterologists have evidence of neurological dysfunction. This manifested with headache and loss of co-ordination. Furthermore 60% of these patients had abnormal brain imaging.

PRESERVE: Randomized Trial of Intensive Versus Standard Blood Pressure Control in Small Vessel Disease.

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Gluten and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

An expanding body of literature is examining connections between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and dietary interventions. While a number of specialist diets have been suggested as beneficial in ASD, gluten has received particularly close attention as a potentially exacerbating factor. Reports exist suggesting a beneficial effect of the gluten-free diet (GFD) in ameliorating behavioural and intellectual problems associated with ASD, while epidemiological research has also shown a comorbidity between ASD and coeliac disease.

Brain fog and non-coeliac gluten sensitivity: Proof of concept brain MRI pilot study.

Aims: Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) is poorly understood, particularly in terms of its neurological outcomes. We initially conducted a prospective postal survey to investigate its neurological presentation and symptom course. Results from this then motivated a follow-up pilot study utilising brain MRI to characterise potential diagnostic biomarkers for future research.

Cognitive Impairment in Coeliac Disease with Respect to Disease Duration and Gluten-Free Diet Adherence: A Pilot Study.

Cognitive deficit has been reported in coeliac disease (CD), but previous reports often study heterogenous samples of patients at multiple stages of the disease, or lack control data. Healthy controls ( = 21), newly diagnosed CD patients (NCD; = 19) and established CD patients (ECD; = 35) were recruited from a specialist UK centre. Participants underwent a cognitive test battery that established seven overall domain scores.

Cognitive Deficit and White Matter Changes in Persons With Celiac Disease: A Population-Based Study.

Background & Aims: There is debate over the presence and prevalence of brain injury in patients with celiac disease. To validate previous reports, we investigated the prevalence of neuropsychological dysfunction in persons with celiac disease included in the National UK Biobank, which contains experimental medical data from 500,000 adults in the United Kingdom.

Methods: Biobank participants with celiac disease (n = 104; mean age, 63 years; 65% female) were matched with healthy individuals (controls, n = 198; mean age, 63 years; 67% female) for age, sex, level of education, body mass index, and diagnosis of hypertension.

A Population Survey of Dietary Attitudes towards Gluten.

It is unclear how the prevalence of people who believe the gluten-free diet (GFD) to be generally healthy ("Lifestylers") is impacting the overall rates of self-reported gluten sensitivity (GS). We repeated a population survey from 2012 in order to examine how attitudes towards GS have changed over time. Our survey ( = 1004) was administered in Sheffield (UK) in 2015, replicating the 2012 experiment.

Neurologic Deficits in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Celiac Disease Are Frequent and Linked With Autoimmunity to Transglutaminase 6.

Background & Aims: Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder induced by ingestion of gluten that affects 1% of the population and is characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms, weight loss, and anemia. We evaluated the presence of neurologic deficits and investigated whether the presence of antibodies to Transglutaminase 6 (TG6) increases the risk of neurologic defects in patients with a new diagnosis of celiac disease.

Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study at a secondary-care gastroenterology center of 100 consecutive patients who received a new diagnosis of celiac disease based on gastroscopy and duodenal biopsy.

Genetic variation in is associated with white matter hyperintensities (n = 11,226).

Objective: To identify novel genetic associations with white matter hyperintensities (WMH).

Methods: We performed a genome-wide association meta-analysis of WMH volumes in 11,226 individuals, including 8,429 population-based individuals from UK Biobank and 2,797 stroke patients. Replication of novel loci was performed in an independent dataset of 1,202 individuals.

Effect of Standard vs Intensive Blood Pressure Control on Cerebral Blood Flow in Small Vessel Disease: The PRESERVE Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Blood pressure (BP) lowering is considered neuroprotective in patients with cerebral small vessel disease; however, more intensive regimens may increase cerebral hypoperfusion. This study examined the effect of standard vs intensive BP treatment on cerebral perfusion in patients with severe small vessel disease.

Objective: To investigate whether standard vs intensive BP lowering over 3 months causes decreased cerebral perfusion in small vessel disease.

Using DTI to assess white matter microstructure in cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) in multicentre studies.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics such as fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) have been proposed as clinical trial markers of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) due to their associations with outcomes such as cognition. However, studies investigating this have been predominantly single-centre. As clinical trials are likely to be multisite, further studies are required to determine whether associations with cognition of similar strengths can be detected in a multicentre setting.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy for Traumatic Brain Injury.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) provides a noninvasive tool to assess metabolic change in the brain following head injury. Observable metabolites reflect neuronal density and viability, glial density, membrane injury, and hypoxia or ischemia. MRS has been used in traumatic brain injury (TBI) research for nearly 20 years and this article reviews the MRS findings in the adult TBI population.

White matter correlates of cognitive dysfunction after mild traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To relate neurophysiologic changes after mild/moderate traumatic brain injury to cognitive deficit in a longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging investigation.

Methods: Fifty-three patients were scanned an average of 6 days postinjury (range = 1-14 days). Twenty-three patients were rescanned 1 year later.